We have the ability to do live video conferences on homes that you are interested in. This allows a buyer to ask questions while we walk through the property. We can show exteriors and views, tour every room, and doing close-ups for finishes and fixtures/appliances. We are at that point that buyers have been waiting [...]]]>

We have the ability to do live video conferences on homes that you are interested in. This allows a buyer to ask questions while we walk through the property. We can show exteriors and views, tour every room, and doing close-ups for finishes and fixtures/appliances. We are at that point that buyers have been waiting for.

The market here has bottomed and we are seeing some price increases. Loan rates are at historic lows we may never see again. During this first quarter, we have seen more homes go under contract than we have seen in years.

If you have a home you are interested in making an offer on, please contact Don Ferris at 970-903-0030 or email him: donferrisrealestate@gmail.com .

Did you see the Sunday Paper! Front page news – “It’s a good time to buy a house”. 

I’m definitely seeing things heat up in Durango. I have a client who is looking to buy, we looked at a bankowned home last week (under $200,000), the second day it was listed and they said [...]]]>

Did you see the Sunday Paper! Front page news – “It’s a good time to buy a house”. 

I’m definitely seeing things heat up in Durango. I have a client who is looking to buy, we looked at a bankowned home last week (under $200,000), the second day it was listed and they said they’d look at offer after one week. Now there are three offers and the “highest and best” one wins. That’s a sure sign of the market turnaround being here when well-priced properties are fetching multiple offers.

And – since I’m working on upgrading the website I was looking through some or our previous blog posts and came across this one – as relevant as ever…

It is an awesome Buyer’s Market and everything is “on sale”, in Durango and beyond! But the clue is – you’ve got to buy something.

It’s ONLY A Buyers Market If You ACTUALLY Buy!!!
One of my friends called me the other day and in an excited voice declared, “I think I might need to look at houses…It’s a GREAT time to buy a house right now, you know!”

I”ve been preaching that all year, but hey, no one listens to me… I said, “Really? What makes you think that?”

“Well. I have a friend who just got a fantastic deal on a house and I think it might be time for me to think about looking!”

Ok, so which part of what I have been saying for months now did she miss? Apparently, the same part that ALOT of buyers are missing.

It’s been on TV; it’s been on the radio; it’s been in print and on the web…where hasn’t it been if you’re a professional Realtor and tuned in to everything real estate ever since they first uttered the words U.S. HOUSING CRISIS!

But here’s the thing… if you are just another economic-shell shocked human being wondering what happened while you were busy enjoying the last twenty years of your life, it may well BE the first time you are realizing it! After all, we all know sellers who still don’t seem to understand that a buyer’s market means that they, too, will not be seeing the profit from the sale of their home that their neighbors saw last year. What in the world makes us think those same folks are out there telling their friends and relatives that they just heard it’s a great time to buy a house!

Its human nature to think that, as long as your world doesn’t seem to be terribly different, then all those problems THE MEDIA is describing must be happening to other people! After all, if you hadn’t really saved that much for retirement, you might not notice that 401Ks everywhere have become 201Ks. If you’re just getting started thinking about long term career goals, job loss statistics are probably lost on you. And if your friends and family don’t have to sell their houses any time soon, you may not have heard that the prices sellers are getting for their homes are easily 10 to 20 to (gulp) 50% less (depending on where you are) than last year’s sellers got for their homes. Just as this past presidential election cycle was the longest in recorded history, so too, it seems to many of us, is the recovery from the housing crisis. But if you don’t vote…or don’t want to buy a house…who cares? It’s only a Buyer’s market if you actually BUY!

Let’s face it, those of us in the business are fully aware that we are in the army now…if we, as professional Realtors, can get some of this housing inventory sold, we will have begun to win the battle that will lead to winning the war! And if we can win the war to get the housing market back on track, we will win the war to get the whole U.S. economy back on track! We are the key! (How’s that for a pep talk?!)

So what do Realtors have to do to get buyers to see that this is serious business? The government is anteing up $8000 in tax credit to get some of you moving. In fact FHA is getting ready to let you use that $8000 as part of your down payment…without having to wait until after closing! Combine that with unbelievable, never before seen, never again to be seen in this lifetime, interest rates (which, by the way, are just as fantastic for those of you who don’t qualify for the tax credit) and you guys should be fighting to get on my schedule to look at homes! I mean full on, no holds barred, hair pulling,fighting!

Oh, I know you’ve called me and we’re trying to get together…but, what with your vacation and all…how ‘bout next month? I even know a lot of you are working with other agents because you’re looking at my listings and you’re even having your agents call me to see if anybody else is looking at the house you like. But what’s up with having your agent write up a preliminary offer, spend days verbally sparring with me and my seller before reaching a tentative agreement, and then I don’t see another thing in writing from you for two weeks?

Buying a home is not a spectator sport! It is a major and serious step toward achieving the American Dream. You’ve heard of that haven’t you? That’s when you get a pretty little piece of dirt with a cozy little roof over your head to come home to after a hard day at work! A place to call your very own and nobody (well except f or the HOA, and, of course, your Realtor when it’s time to sell) can tell you what to do there! It’s a place where you can paint the walls any color you want, invite friends over whenever you feel like it or get a puppy!

Give us poor Realtors a break… we’ve done all the work already, helping our sellers see that they need to provide you with a home in really great condition and at a really great price (no they aren’t happy about that last one but THEY trust us.) How can you go wrong?

So, my friends, we are here for you! We promise to show you opportunities you won’t believe are available! I promise to walk you through the process every step of the way and answer ALL your questions and teach you really COOL stuff about home ownership! I’m telling you there is a SALE, a REALLY BIG SALE on real estate right now and you shouldn’t miss it!

Claudia Williams
Owner/Ecobroker/Exchangor
Blue Ribbon Properties, 835 Main Ave #214, Durango, CO 81301

970 247 8388 (office), 970 749 3555 (cell), 970 247 8360 (fax), info@blueribbondurango.com

Connect with Claudia on facebook, buzztown, twitter, linked in and my blog articles

Be sure to LIKE Blue Ribbon Properties on Facebook!

Check out the New Market Snapshot to monitor the value of your home and get current local market conditions

Happy Leap Day!!! LEAP DAY only happens every four years and we want you to take advantage of this special day. Stop by Blue Ribbon Properties to claim your free hat, and start thinking about buying some real estate.

It’s a great time to buy real estate. The market is at the cusp of [...]]]>

Happy Leap Day!!! LEAP DAY only happens every four years and we want you to take advantage of this special day. Stop by Blue Ribbon Properties to claim your free hat, and start thinking about buying some real estate.

It’s a great time to buy real estate. The market is at the cusp of turn around, it won’t get any cheaper than this. Take the bull by the horn and start by signing up for our free market report – for Buyers and Sellers – to keep yourself apprised of the developments in our local micro market – www.durangohousevalues.com.

See yesterday’s article on the Housing Bright Spot: Pending Home Sales Rise, Market on Uptrend

Finally – we have Blue Ribbon baseball caps and would like to encourage you to stop by our office in downtown Durango’s Main Mall upstairs and pick one up, as a thank you for helping spread the word about us. For our very special clients, we also have fleece vests! Blue army style hats, and black traditional style hats. See photo.

Happy Leap Day!

Click Here for Fun Facts about Leap Day!

Today the Durango Discovery Museum is celebrating their 1st birthday! Their doors have been open a full year – can you believe it!?

You should go and check out the fun Birthday Bash today from 11:30am-7:00pm – Jugglers, Firedancers, Musicians, Cake and more! FREE admission!

Click Here for the Discovery Museum’s Webpage

Today [...]]]>

Today the Durango Discovery Museum is celebrating their 1st birthday! Their doors have been open a full year – can you believe it!?

You should go and check out the fun Birthday Bash today from 11:30am-7:00pm – Jugglers, Firedancers, Musicians, Cake and more! FREE admission!

Click Here for the Discovery Museum’s Webpage

Today is also our FAVORITE Real Estate Broker’s birthday! Claudia Williams! Happy Birthday Claudia! Hope you have the most wonderful day snowboarding with your family!

970 247 8388 (office), 970 749 3555 (cell), 970 247 8360 (fax), blueribbondurango.com

January 6, 2012 – Here’s starting off to a successful New Year!

Here’s your Durango Real Estate Statistics and Weekly Update! Great deals, new listings, foreclosures and sold comparables.

What sold this past week?

13 properties sold in Durango, Colorado and area over the last week. Some really good deals – check it out.

Click Here for Sold Listings 

Gotta love living in Durango – I spend mothersday watching my kids play soccer (all weekend) in Durango’s own Durango Shoot Out Soccer Tournament and snuck away on Sunday afternoon to go down the river. It was [...]]]>

On the Lighter Side!

Town run – Rafting on the Animas River, going right through Durango

Gotta love living in Durango – I spend mothersday watching my kids play soccer (all weekend) in Durango’s own Durango Shoot Out Soccer Tournament and snuck away on Sunday afternoon to go down the river. It was running at 1000, not real big, but getting there. It was hot out and a beautiful, sunny spring day in Durango! How lucky are we to have our very own river in our back yard, and rafts in the garage. I’m up to two rafts, two duckies, six innertubes… I may have to build another garage.

Front page news on today’s Durango Herald – Eight steps to a sweet summer job as a river rafting guide – How about that? Move to Durango, become a rafting guide and I you bring money I’ll help you buy a house! Call me to discuss rafting or Durango Real Estate. Life is Good! I will copy the article below or get the link here.

For info on Durango soccer, the Durango Shoot Out tournament and more go to http://www.durangosoccer.com/

Claudia

–
Claudia Williams
Owner/Ecobroker/Exchangor
Blue Ribbon Properties
835 Main Ave #214
Durango, CO 81301

970 247 8388 (office)
970 749 3555 (cell)
970 247 8360 (fax)
www.blueribbondurango.com

Check out my blog
The Scoop on Durango Real Estate
www.blueribbondurango.com/blog

Life is but a dream

Eight steps to a sweet summer job as a river rafting guide

 

SARAH FRIEDMAN/Herald

Zach Conde shows Mike and Cara Orton how to paddle while they are on the raft. Local rafters say the most important part of a rafter’s job is to make sure the customers leave the river with big smiles.

Enlargephoto

Herald file

Rafters enjoy the high waters in the Smelter Rapid Corner Pocket in Durango in June 2010. Several rafters in Durango say you’ve got to love the water and love people make it as a river guide. Oh, it helps if you’re not looking for a fat paycheck, too.

Enlargephoto

Here is some great local Durango humor that I read today in the:

Durango Area Resource Guide 2011

You can get a copy of this great magazine at the Herald (our local newspaper).

Here are a few jokes from the “You know you’re in Durango when…” section:

* You hit a deer, elk or [...]]]>

Here is some great local Durango humor that I read today in the:

Durango Area Resource Guide 2011

You can get a copy of this great magazine at the Herald (our local newspaper).

Here are a few jokes from the “You know you’re in Durango when…” section:

* You hit a deer, elk or bear and someone stops to take it home for meat.

* There is a correlation between sick days and power days at DMR.

* It could be sunny, windy, hailing, snowing or raining all in the same hour.

* You are late to work because of a “sheep jam” on the highway in Bayfield.

* When you have three part-time jobs arranged around peak hours for skiing and biking.

Another fun section was “Let’s play: Native Tongue” on how to pronounce some local surnames:

* Arboles – Ar bow leez

* Mancos – Main’ cuss

* Kroegers – Kray’ gers

* Ouray – Yoo ray

* Animas – Ann’ ih muss

Fun Stuff, the magazine has tons of valuable local information to offer, do check it out!

–

Shaheen Hood

835 Main Ave. Suite # 214
Office: 970-247-8388 Fax: 970-247-8360
Shaheen’s Cell: 970-769-2441

It’s Durango’s 33rd annual SNOWDOWN!

What is Snowdown?

Each year Durango throws a week long festival that was originally designed to get people out of their houses in the middle of winter and shake off that cabin fever! 

Each year has a different theme and fun events, contests and performances!  All are open to [...]]]>

It’s Durango’s 33rd annual SNOWDOWN!

What is Snowdown?

Each year Durango throws a week long festival that was originally designed to get people out of their houses in the middle of winter and shake off that cabin fever! 

Each year has a different theme and fun events, contests and performances!  All are open to the public and anyone can play. – Some age restrictions apply to some events that take place in bars.

This year’s theme: 

SNOWDOWN BITES it’s Monstrous!  (Monsters)

Some of my personal favoirte annual events are:

- The Follies and The Fashion Show: Fun local comedy and shows

- The arm wrestling competition: just as it sounds

- The polar BEER plunge: People jump into a big pool of beer

- The Beard growing competition: see who can grow the best beard!

- The High Five contest: several categories – high 5, low 5, high 10,  custom.

____________________________________________________

* Here is the official Snowdown website: http://www.snowdown.org/

* Here is the list of events page: http://www.snowdown.org/calendar.php

Have fun out there!

Shaheen Hood

835 Main Ave. Suite # 214
Office: 970-247-8388 Fax: 970-247-8360
Shaheen’s Cell: 970-769-2441

It doesn’t get much better then this!  We do have a couple of Cruiser Bikes available for our clients to use if they want to ride around in the downtown area or if they want to preview [...]]]>

Client gets a Cruiser Bike

as a closing gift!!!

It doesn’t get much better then this!  We do have a couple of Cruiser Bikes available for our clients to use if they want to ride around in the downtown area or if they want to preview near by homes.  We also offer a cruiser bike closing gift to clients to who request one! 

What are you waiting for?

Call us today to set up a listing appointment to sell your home or a buyer consultation to start your home buying search!

–

835 Main Ave. Suite # 214
Office: 970-247-8388 Fax: 970-247-8360
Shaheen’s Cell: 970-769-2441

A great article in the Durango Herald on Monday was headlined as;

“HOME VALUES SLIDE 10% in 2010″

Median home prices dropped more then 10 percent when compared to 2009. 

Statistics also showed that more homes sold in 2010 then sold in 2009 which is a good indicator of consumer confidence growing in Durango’s market.

There [...]]]>

A great article in the Durango Herald on Monday was headlined as;

“HOME VALUES SLIDE 10% in 2010″

Median home prices dropped more then 10 percent when compared to 2009. 

Statistics also showed that more homes sold in 2010 then sold in 2009 which is a good indicator of consumer confidence growing in Durango’s market.

There is a good amount of inventory available right now including many condos.  Banks are now offering lending on condos, which has been a challenge in the past.

All in all, statistics are showing slow but gradual improvement across the board.

Click here to read the full article

If there are any other statistics we can provide for you, send us an email or give us a call, we are happy to help.  Thanks for subscribing to our blog!

Shaheen Hood

Blue Ribbon Properties

835 Main Ave. Suite # 214
Office: 970-247-8388 Fax: 970-247-8360
Shaheen’s Cell: 970-769-2441